2013 SKODA FABIA towing

XDL function (Fabia RS and Fabia Estate RS only)
XDL is an extension to the electronic differential lock. XDL does not respond to
traction, but to the relief of the inner front wheel during fast cornering. The active
brake intervention on the brake of the inner wheel prevents it from spinning.
Thus, the traction is improved and the vehicle continues to follow the desired
track.
Parking aid
 Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Function
113
Activation/deactivation
114WARNING■ The parking aid is not a substitute for the driver paying proper attention and
it is always the driver's responsibility to take care when reversing the vehicle
or carrying out similar manoeuvres. Pay particular attention to small children
and animals as they are not recognised by the parking aid sensors.■
Before reversing, you should make sure that there are no small obstacles,
such as rocks, thin posts, trailer drawbars etc. behind your vehicle. Such ob-
stacles may not be recognised by the parking aid sensors.
■
Under certain circumstances, surfaces of certain objects and types of cloth-
ing cannot reflect the system signals. Thus, these objects or people who wear
such clothing are not recognised by the System sensors.
■
External sound sources can have a detrimental effect on the system. Under
adverse conditions, this may cause objects or people to not be recognised by the system.
CAUTION
■ If a warning signal sounds for about 3 seconds after activating the system and
there is no obstacle close to your car, this indicates a system fault. Have the fault
rectified by a specialist garage.■
The sensors must be kept clean (free of ice, etc.) to enable the parking aid to
operate properly.
■ Under adverse weather conditions (heavy rain, water vapour, very low or high
temperatures etc.) system function may be limited.■
Additionally fitted modules, such as a bicycle rack, can impair the function of the
parking aid.

Function
Fig. 97
Parking aid: Range of sensors
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn- ings on page 113.
The parking aid (referred to below solely as system) only works when the ignition
is switched on.
The system supports the driver via audible signals, via the display on the radio or
via the factory-installed navigation system when parking and manoeuvring » Ra-
dio user guide, Navigation system user guide.
The system uses ultrasound waves to calculate the distance between the bumper
and an obstacle. The ultrasonic sensors are integrated in the rear bumper.
Range of sensors
The clearance warning begins at a distance of about 160 cm from the obstacle
(area
A
» Fig. 97 ). The interval between the warning signals becomes shorter as
the clearance is reduced.
A continuous tone sounds from a distance of approx. 30 cm (area
B
) - danger
area. You should not reverse any further after this signal sounds!
On vehicles with a factory-fitted towing device, the border of the danger area starts (continuous tone) 5 cm further away from the vehicle. The length of the ve-
hicle can be increased with an installed detachable towing device.

113Assist systems

Activation/deactivationFirst read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 113.
The system is activated automatically by engaging reverse gear. This is confirmed
by a brief audible signal.
The system is deactivated by disengaging reverse gear.
Note
The system cannot be activated on vehicles with a factory-fitted towing device
when towing a trailer.
Cruise control system
 Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Storing a speed
115
Changing a stored speed
115
Switching off temporarily
115
Switching off completely
115
The cruise control system (CCS) maintains a constant speed above 25 km/h, once
it has been set, without you having to depress the accelerator pedal.
This is only possible within the range which is permitted by the power output and
braking power of the engine.
The 
warning light in the instrument cluster lights up when the cruise control
system is switched on.
WARNING■ For safety reasons, the cruise control system must not be used in dense
traffic or on unfavourable road surfaces (such as icy roads, slippery roads,
loose gravel) – there is a risk of an accident.■
The saved speed may only be resumed if it is not too high for the current
traffic conditions.
■
Always deactivate the cruise control system after use to prevent the system
being enabled unintentionally.
CAUTION
■ The cruise control system is not able to maintain a constant speed when driving
in areas with steeper gradients. The weight of the vehicle increases the speed at which it travels. Therefore, shift to a lower gear in good time or slow the vehicle
down by applying the foot brake.■
It is not possible to switch on the cruise control system on vehicles fitted with a
manual gearbox if first gear or reverse gear is engaged.
■
It is not possible on vehicles fitted with an automatic gearbox to switch on the
cruise control system if the selector lever is in the position P, N or R.
■
The cruise control system may automatically switch off when some brake assist
systems (e.g. ESC) intervene, when the speed exceeds maximum permissible en- gine speed, or a similar event takes place.

114Driving

Towing a trailer
Towing device
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Description
118
Adjusting the ready position
119
Fitting the ball head
119
Check proper fitting
120
Removing the ball head
120
Use and care
121
If your vehicle has already been factory-fitted with towing equipment or is fitted
with towing equipment from ŠKODA Original Accessories, then it meets all of the technical requirements and national legal provisions for towing a trailer.
Your vehicle is fitted with a 13-pin power socket for the electrical connection be-tween the vehicle and trailer. If the trailer that is to be towed has a 7-pin connec-
tor , you can use a suitable adapter from ŠKODA Original Accessories.
The maximum trailer drawbar load is 50 kg.
WARNING■
Check that the ball head is seated correctly and is secured in the mounting
recess before starting any journey.■
Do not use the ball head if it is not correctly inserted in the mounting recess.
■
Do not use the towing equipment if it is damaged or incomplete.
■
Do not modify or adapt the towing equipment in any way.
■
Never release the ball head while the trailer is still coupled.
CAUTION
Take care with the ball head to avoid damaging the paintwork on the bumper.
DescriptionFig. 100
Remove cover cap: on the rear bumper/for the mounting recess
Fig. 101
Ball head
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 118.
The ball head can be removed and is kept in the spare wheel well or in a compart- ment for the spare wheel in the luggage compartment » page 181, Vehicle tool
kit .
Image description » Fig. 100 and » Fig. 101
Tool for removing the wheel trims
Cover in the rear bumper
13-pin power socket
Cover for the mounting recess
Dust cap
Ball head
Operating lever 
1234567118Driving

Lock cap
Release pin
Key
Locking ball
Note
■ The tool for removing the wheel trim is part of the vehicle tool kit » page 181 .■If you lose the key, please get in touch with a specialist garage.

Adjusting the ready position
Fig. 102
Setting the ready position/ready position
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn- ings
on page 118.
Always adjust the ball head in the ready position before fitting.
›
Turn the key so that its red mark
1
» Fig. 102 is visible.
›
Grip the ball head below the protective cap
2
.
›
Press the release pin
3
as far as the stop in the direction of the arrow - at the
same time push the lever
4
downwards as far as it will go in the direction of
the arrow.
The lever remains locked in this position.
CAUTION
In the ready position, the key cannot be removed nor turned to a different posi-
tion.891011
Fitting the ball headFig. 103
Insert the ball head/lock the lock, and put the lock cover on
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 118.
›
Remove the cover in the rear bumper
2
» Fig. 100 on page 118 in the direction
of the arrow using the tool for removing the wheel trims.
›
Pull off the cover for the mounting recess
4
» Fig. 100 on page 118 in the direc-
tion of the arrow » .
›
Adjust the ball head to the ready position » page 119.
›
Grip the tow bar from underneath » Fig. 103 and insert into the mounting re-
cess until you hear it click into place » .
Lever
1
» Fig. 103 automatically turns upwards and the release pin
2
pops out
(its red and green parts are visible) » .
If the lever
1
does not turn automatically, or if the release pin
2
does not pop
out, remove the ball head from the mounting recess by turning the lever down-
wards as far as it can go. Clean the tapered surfaces on the ball head and the
mounting recess.
›
Lock the lock on the operating lever by turning the key by 180° to the right (see
green marking
3
is visible) and remove the key in the direction of the arrow.
›
Push cap
4
» Fig. 103 onto the lock in the direction of the arrow » .
›
Check the ball head for secure mounting » page 120. 
119Towing a trailer

WARNING■Carefully remove the cap for the mounting recess - there is a risk of hand
injury.■
Keep your hands outside the lever's range of motion when attaching the ball
head – there is a risk of finger injury.
■
Never attempt to pull the operating lever upwards forcibly to turn the key.
Doing so would mean the ball head is not attached correctly.
CAUTION
■ After removing the key, always replace the cap on the lock of the operating lev-
er – there is a risk of dirt getting into the lock.■
Keep the mounting recess of the towing equipment clean at all times. Such dirt
prevents the ball head from being attached securely.
■
After removing the ball head, always place the cap on the mounting recess.
■
Remove the cover from the rear bumper with care - there is a risk of paint dam-
age to the bumper and the cap.
Note
Store cover 2 and cover 4 » Fig. 100 on page 118 in a suitable place in the lug-
gage compartment after removing them.
Check proper fitting
Fig. 104
Check that the ball head is fitted
properly
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 118.
Check that the ball head is fitted properly each time before use.
Check the following points.
Lever 1
is up as far as it goes » Fig. 104.
The release pin
2
is completely exposed (both its red and green parts are
visible).
The key is removed.
The cap
3
is on the lock of the operating lever.
The ball head does not come out of the mounting recess even after heavy
“shaking”.
WARNINGDo not use the towing equipment unless the ball head was properly locked.

Removing the ball head
Fig. 105
Unlock the operating lever of the ball head/removing the ball head
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn- ings
on page 118.
›
Remove the cap
1
» Fig. 105 from the lock on the tow bar in the direction of
the arrow.
›
Unlock the lock on the operating lever by turning the key 180° to the left so that
the red marking
2
becomes visible.
›
Grasp the ball head from underneath.
›
Press the release pin
3
as far as the stop in the direction of the arrow - at the
same time push the lever
4
downwards as far as it will go in the direction of
the arrow. 
120Driving

The ball head is released in this position and falls freely into the hand. If it does
not fall freely into the hand, use your other hand to push it upwards.
At the same time, the ball head latches into the ready position and is thus readyto be re-inserted into the mounting recess »
.
›
Fit the cover for the mounting recess
4
» Fig. 100 on page 118 in the opposite
direction to the arrow.
›
Offer up the cap to the rear bumper
2
» Fig. 100 on page 118 aligning it with
“check mark” in the lower bumper area.
›
Push the cap in first on the left and right and then at the top.
WARNINGNever allow the ball head to remain unsecured in the boot. This could cause damage in a sudden braking manoeuvre and put the safety of the occupantsat risk.
CAUTION
■ If the lever is held firm and not pushed downwards as far as it can go, it will go
back up after the ball head is removed and will not latch into the ready position.
The ball head then needs to be brought into this position before the next time it
is fitted.■
Stow the ball head in the ready position with the key inserted in the box. When
doing so, make the side opposite to the inserted key face downwards – there is a
risk of damaging the key.
■
Do not use excessive force when handling the operating lever (e.g. do not step
on it).
Note
■ We recommend that you put the protective cap on the ball before removing the
ball head.■
Clean any dirt from the ball head before stowing it away in the box with the ve-
hicle tool kit.

Use and care
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 118.
Close the mounting recess with the cap to prevent any ingress of dirt.
Always check the ball head before hitching a trailer. Apply a suitable grease where necessary.
Fit the protective cap when stowing away the ball head to protect the luggage
compartment against dirt.
In the event of dirt, clean the surfaces of the mounting recess and treat with a
suitable preservative.
CAUTION
Apply grease to the upper part of the mounting recess. Make sure you do not re-
move any grease.
Trailer
 Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Loading a trailer
121
Towing a trailer
122
Anti-theft alarm system
123WARNINGAlways drive particularly carefully with the trailer.

Loading a trailer
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 121.
The vehicle/trailer combination must be balanced, whereby the maximum permis-
sible drawbar load must be utilised. If the drawbar load is too low, it jeopardises the performance of the vehicle/trailer combination.
Distribution of the load
Distribute the load in the trailer in such a way that heavy items are located as close to the axle as possible. Secure the items from slipping. 
121Towing a trailer

The distribution of the weight is very poor if your vehicle is unladen and the trail-
er is laden. Maintain a particularly low speed if you cannot avoid driving with this
combination.
Tyre pressure
Correct the tyre inflation pressure on your vehicle for a “full load” » page 174,
Tyre service life .
Trailer load
The permissible trailer load must not be exceeded under any circumstan- ces » page 201 , Technical data .
The trailer loads specified apply only to altitudes up to 1 000 metres above mean
sea level.
The engine output falls as altitude increases, as does the ability to climb. There-
fore, for every additional 1000 m in height (or part), the maximum permissible
towed weight must be reduced by 10 %.
The towed weight comprises the actual weights of the (loaded) towing vehicleand the (loaded) trailer.
The trailer and drawbar load information on the type plate of the towing equip- ment are merely test data for the towing equipment. The vehicle-specific values
are detailed in the vehicle documents.WARNING■ Do not exceed the maximum permissible axle and drawbar load and the
maximum permissible total or towed weight of the vehicle and the trailer –
there is the risk of an accident and serious injury.■
Slipping loads can significantly affect the stability and safety of the vehicle/
trailer combination – there is the risk of an accident and serious injury.

Towing a trailer
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 121.
Exterior mirrors
You have to have additional exterior mirrors fitted if you are not able to see the
traffic behind the trailer with the standard rear-view mirrors. National legal re-
quirements must be observed.
Headlights
The front of the vehicle can be lifted when a trailer is being towed and the head-
lights can dazzle other road users.
Adjust the headlight setting on the headlight range control » page 44, Headlight
beam adjustment .
Driving speed
For safety reasons, do not drive faster than 80 km/h when towing a trailer.
Immediately reduce your speed as soon as even the slightest swaying of the trail- er is detected. Never attempt to stop the trailer from “swaying” by accelerating.
Brakes
Apply the brakes in good time! If the trailer is fitted with a trailer brake, apply the
brakes gently at first, then brake firmly. This will avoid brake jolts resulting from
the trailer wheels locking.
On downhill sections shift down a gear in good time to also use the engine as a
brake.
Engine overheating
The speed must be reduced immediately if the needle for the coolant tempera- ture gauge moves into the right-hand area or the red area of the scale.
Stop and switch off the engine if the warning light 
in the instrument cluster
starts to flash. Wait a few minutes and check the level of coolant » page 167,
Checking the coolant level .
The following guidelines must be observed » page 22, 

Coolant .
The coolant temperature can be reduced by switching on the heating.WARNING■ Adapt your speed to the conditions of the road surface and to the traffic sit-
uation.■
Improper or incorrectly connected electric cables can energise the trailer and
cause functional faults to the vehicle's entire electrical system as well as acci-
dents and severe injuries.
■
Work on the electrical system must only be carried out by specialist garages.
■
Never directly connect the trailer's electrical system with the electrical con-
nections for the tail lights or other current sources. 
122Driving

Note■After coupling the trailer and connecting up the power socket, check the rear
lights on the trailer to ensure they work.■
If there is an error in the trailer lighting system, check the fuses in the fuse box
in the dashboard » page 193.
■
If you tow a trailer frequently, you should also have your car inspected between
service intervals.
■
The handbrake on the towing vehicle must be applied when coupling and un-
coupling the trailer.

Anti-theft alarm system
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 121.
When the vehicle is locked, the alarm is activated as soon as the electrical con- nection to the trailer is interrupted.
Always switch off the anti-theft alarm system before a trailer is coupled or uncou- pled » page 35 .
Conditions for including a trailer in the anti-theft alarm system. The vehicle is factory-fitted with an anti-theft alarm system and towingequipment.
The trailer is electrically connected to the towing vehicle by means of the
trailer socket.
The electrical system of the vehicle and trailer is functional. The vehicle is locked with the vehicle key and the anti-theft alarm system isactivated.
Note
For technical reasons, trailers with rear LED lights cannot be connected to the an-
ti-theft alarm system.
123Towing a trailer